Know Before You Go
Planning a trip to the Sunshine Coast? Here’s what you need to know before you go so that you can explore safely, responsibly, and respectfully.
Travel Updates and Information
Community Notices
Planned Power Outage: BC Hydro has scheduled a planned power outage to the City of Powell River and the surrounding area including Lund and Cortes Island, Texada Island, and Saltery Bay, on September 14 from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Please be further advised that the outage will cause service disruption to BC Ferries with schedule changes to be announced in April 2025.
Water usage: Stage 1 water conservation regulations are in effect on the Sunshine Coast. The Sunshine Coast faces increased demand on drinking water resources during periods of drought. Conserving water is a collective effort—familiarize yourself with local water restrictions before you arrive and learn more about how to conserve water during your trip.
Campfires: Campfires are currently permitted in the Coastal Fire Centre. Click here for more details on the restrictions in the Coastal Fire Centre area, which includes the Sunshine Coast. Campfires must be no larger than 0.5m high x 0.5m diameter and a minimum of 3m (10ft) from combustible materials. Please continue to exercise utmost care and make sure all campfires are fully extinguished.
Call *5555 on a cell or 1.800.663.5555 (toll-free) to report a wildfire. A new BC Wildfire Service app is now available for download, and includes interactive maps, news and advisories, and a reporting tool.
Bring your patience: Some local businesses are experiencing labour shortages. Please remember to be patient in the event of longer-than-normal wait times or unexpected closures.
Backcountry Preparedness: Familiarize yourself with Leave No Trace principles and check out AdventureSmart as a great resource to help you get informed before heading outdoors. Remember the three Ts—trip planning, training, and taking the essentials.
Roads, Ferries & Transportation
Roads: Construction is underway in areas along Highway 101. Please check Drive BC for details on the current conditions on Highway 101, and leave some extra time to get to your destination. For all other roads on the Sunshine Coast, please visit scrd.ca/alerts for the South Coast and qathet.ca for the North Coast.
BC Ferries: The Sunshine Coast is a popular summer destination. Making a ferry reservation is recommended, but if you’re unable to make a reservation, keep in mind that space is also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit bcferries.com for information on travel advisories, route status updates, and current conditions on major routes. You can also download the new BC Ferries app to book trips, check in at the terminal, and stay up-to-date with alerts.
Parks & Trails
The bridge at the wetland (to the right of the campground) in Inland Lake Provincial Park has been damaged by storms. Inland Lake Trail is no longer fully accessible and the trail will not be a loop until the re-routing is complete.
Porpoise Bay Provincial Park is open for day use, however the Angus Creek trails between the beach and the amphitheatre are temporarily closed.
Visit the BC Parks website for information on provincial parks. Visit qathet.ca or scrd.ca for information on regional parks.
Short-term Rentals (STRs)
The Province of BC introduced new short-term rental rules effective May 1, 2024. This includes implementing a provincial principal residence requirement in most urban communities in BC; on the Sunshine Coast this applies to the District of Sechelt and the City of Powell River, but not the surrounding rural areas. Hosts will be required to display a business license in areas where they are required by a local government.
If you are planning a trip to the Sunshine Coast, you can check with your short-term rental host directly to confirm they comply with local government regulations and with BC’s new STR rules. Click here to learn more.
